Since taking office in January, Mayor Bill de Blasio has been criticized for failing to follow through on promised legislation, with universal pre-k serving as the most glaring example.

With his recent announcement of a complete overhaul to the Sandy relief programs, New Yorkers are watching closely to see if de Blasio can come through on what has been a sore spot for many homeowners for the past 18 months.

The proposed revamp of the recovery and relief programs, coming a year and a half after Superstorm Sandy swept through the city, are a light at the end of what has been a long and dark tunnel for many who saw their homes destroyed.

New Yorkers will only reach the end of that tunnel, however, if de Blasio sticks to his word and continues to work to fix the mistakes of the past. It has been too long of a recovery process for too many people, and getting New York back to where it was before Sandy needs to be at the top of de Blasio’s priority list.

On the bright side, the revised recovery plan could be a turning point for de Blasio and the way New Yorkers view his administration. If he can successfully repair the damages that have been done by Sandy and the delayed response of the administration before him, de Blasio may be able to get New Yorkers to change their minds about his ability to run this city.

Only time will tell if the mayor will come through on the proposed recovery and relief overhaul. The clock is ticking, though, as red tape has kept many residents from returning to their normal lives. If he wants to get New Yorkers on his side, de Blasio is going to have to act quickly and with purpose.